University of Cincinnati’s Universal Provider Grant goes to faculty and staff nature as medicine program

The Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC is the recipient of the Universal Provider Grant that the University of Cincinnati provides via its provost office to “improve the quality of faculty members’ engagement in teaching, research, service, and leadership,” according to the provost’s website. The Osher Center will utilize the funding to expand its nature as medicine programming, intended to promote wellness among university staff and faculty.

According to an article on the University of Cincinnati’s website, Barbara Walker, PhD, who serves as the clinical director of the university’s Nature as Medicine programs, was quoted as saying, “We are thrilled to collaborate with faculty on the Campus Nature Rx project, offering an opportunity to explore the positive impact of nature on personal well-being. Together, we aim to empower faculty to bring these valuable wellness strategies into the student experience, fostering a healthier campus community.”

The Osher Center for Integrative Health received funding from a Universal Provider Grant that previously allowed for 1,000 faculty and/or staff members to receive mental health and wellbeing training about using nature as medicine. With this newest round of Universal Provider Grant funding, the Osher Center aims to turn the training and nature as medicine initiative into a larger initiative that will affect the entire campus community.

As part of this new initiative, all of the University of Cincinnati’s faculty and staff are invited to participate in Zoom introductions led by Walker, which are taking place on February 26 and March 7, to learn more about the Campus Rx Nature resources that are available to promote mental health and wellness. Any staff or faculty members who participate in one of these introductory courses will be invited to attend an in-person Nature as Medicine retreat.

The retreats are half-day sessions, taking place on April 4 and April 11. At these retreats, participants will be immersed in training exercises designed by the International and Nature Forest Therapy Alliance. A meal will be served, and participants will learn tools to engage with nature and how to use those tools as a form of therapy. The retreats will be led by Walker and Kelly Lyle, both of whom are certified by the International and Nature Forest Therapy Alliance.

Sian Cotton, PhD., who serves as the director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health, said of the initiative and the possibility that it can affect the campus as a whole, "Benefits to faculty will hopefully ripple out to positively impact their students’ academic outcomes, improve social-emotional health and executive function skills, increase empathy and environmentally conscious behaviors, as well as enhance creativity, resilience and well-being.”

For more information about the University of Cincinnati, visit the school’s website.